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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by rickdog on December 5, 2004, at 13:24:06
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Noa on April 22, 2000, at 13:20:30
I want to quit them because I have been on them for a long time and feel i do not need them in my life anymore. It's hard to get off of them though because I'm not in university anymore and don't have any medical coverage. I have begun to cut my dose in half myself, taking my 75mg and taking approximately half of the medication out. This is of course against my Doctors wishes (who make money off of these prescriptions). I am feeling the side effects and the longest I have gone is 5 days and counting. I started at 75mg a day, then I got to 37.5 mg every two days and now im on the journey off of them. Wish me luck.
Posted by dsbk on December 5, 2004, at 14:08:53
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » corafree, posted by MKB on December 5, 2004, at 9:19:47
I've been off my Effexor for maybe 5 days. The only thing I'm feeling is the dizziness and foggy head. I experience this with my GAD, so I don't know if it's the GAD or Effexor withdrawls. Sometimes I just want to scream of cry because I'm sick of not feeling 'normal'. I try to function like nothing is wrong, but the fact is the problem is there. At this point I'm worried about my depression coming back (my anxiety causes my depression) That is the only time depression has shown up is when my anxiety has taken over my life. I go to the Dr. Thursday. Still trying to decide if I want to go back on Paxil. I wish I could go without meds, but I'm thinking it's not going to work that way. Wow! I'm rambling on, I guess I'm not having as good a day as yesterday. I spend a lot of time telling my self that I will be fine today, just like yesterday and that someone, somewhere is worse off than me.
So does anyone know, does the Effexor withdrawls cause the dizziness and foggy head?dsbk
Posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 14:29:42
In reply to Re: please be civil » PoohBear » dancingstar, posted by Dr. Bob on December 5, 2004, at 12:21:37
> > this is very unfair.
> >
> > PoohBear
>
> > I suppose it will take something truly tragic, like suicide, murder or the like to garner the attention that this matter deserves.
> >
> > dancingstar
>
> Please don't post anything that could lead others to feel accused or suggest that it might be good for others to harm themselves or others. Thanks,
>
> BobDid you read the entire post? This was speaking toward the general public and my concern for the need for marketing reform so that these drugs don't end up in the wrong hands, like in mine.
Posted by corafree on December 5, 2004, at 14:38:30
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » MKB, posted by S.Bartel on December 5, 2004, at 4:43:10
I see both sides of this issue. I wasn't on an AD for menopause, but for PTSD and resulting BpersonD. I've been on something much longer than 10yrs. Some people, like me, cannot afford to put themselves in the position of $ for alternatives or withdrawal w/o any support. cf
Posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 14:38:33
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor? dancingstar » S.Bartel, posted by MKB on December 5, 2004, at 9:06:27
:-) Wow, we really do have to "watch our words" on this board. I only came here because of the link to Google, but I wonder if there is anything about this on beliefnet.com. The reason that I stay is because we can, perhaps, influence silent readers that also click on the same linke.
I suppose Dr. Bob has to be careful about various forms of liabiity considering that this is literally a psych website.
Posted by corafree on December 5, 2004, at 14:44:37
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » corafree, posted by MKB on December 5, 2004, at 8:57:05
You're not babblebul(!?!)
I'll do that .. got it, tks cf
> Corafree,
> I'm sorry, but I don't know enough to be able to answer that question for you. Read the information on the website www.healthrecovery.com or check with your doctor. Meanwhile, I will try to find out too.
Posted by corafree on December 5, 2004, at 14:50:19
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » corafree, posted by MKB on December 5, 2004, at 9:19:47
I think you'll see that I just posted about my living arrangement and financial position here.
My honest answer is 'no', 'not yet', hoping, something to pray for! cf
> Corafree,
> Here's what the website www.healthrecovery.com says about mixing tryptophan with antidepressants.
> "Can Tryptophan Be Combined With An SSRI Anti-Depressant?
>
> Combing SSRI drugs and tryptophan is inviting a deluge of serotonin into the brain...it's dangerous to do, and in most cases not recommended. However a recent client is taking a very small dose (5 milligrams) of Prozac in conjunction with daily tryptophan and the result has been exactly right for her. Warning: Do not play with this or any combination of tryptophan and anti-depressant drugs. Your doctor MUST be supervising such an experiment."
>
> Is there any way your condition would allow you to get off the Effexor long enough to try it?
>
Posted by corafree on December 5, 2004, at 14:56:05
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by rickdog on December 5, 2004, at 13:24:06
You're brave and I hope you make it.
I've kept a container of extra capsules (full capsules) of Eff-XR if I ever get to where you are. Should they be refrigerated, I wonder?
I've also kept posts re: withdrawals so that if they happen to me, I'll know it's the drug, not me, making myself crazy or ill! best wishes cf
> I want to quit them because I have been on them for a long time and feel i do not need them in my life anymore. It's hard to get off of them though because I'm not in university anymore and don't have any medical coverage. I have begun to cut my dose in half myself, taking my 75mg and taking approximately half of the medication out. This is of course against my Doctors wishes (who make money off of these prescriptions). I am feeling the side effects and the longest I have gone is 5 days and counting. I started at 75mg a day, then I got to 37.5 mg every two days and now im on the journey off of them. Wish me luck.
Posted by S.Bartel on December 5, 2004, at 15:31:31
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by dsbk on December 5, 2004, at 14:08:53
Sorry to say, yes it does but it will get better. Keep busy and pray a lot. If your're able excercise helps a lot. Sammi
Posted by S.Bartel on December 5, 2004, at 15:43:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor? dancingstar » MKB, posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 14:38:33
Yes I can understand that and I'm sure if he himself has'nt gone through what we have it's hard for him to understand our passion about this subject. I try not to get too passionate about this, but it's hard when you've been hurt so bad and you hear others falling into the same trap and they don't seem to want to believe what you're saying. I can understand that too. I know 6 months or a year ago I would'nt have listened either. They sound just like I did. I truly believed it was the best drug ever invented. I just don't want anyone else to go thru this, but I can't save the world. I tend to forget that sometimes and I'm sorry if I come across too strong sometimes. Sammi
Posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 15:47:06
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor? dancingstar » dancingstar, posted by S.Bartel on December 5, 2004, at 15:43:24
You sound exactly like me.
Posted by S.Bartel on December 5, 2004, at 15:50:23
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor? dancingstar » S.Bartel, posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 15:47:06
Wish there was an effexor chat room. Sammi
Posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 15:59:55
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor? » dancingstar, posted by S.Bartel on December 5, 2004, at 15:50:23
I need to run out now, but write to me at Bebe0217@aol.com, and we can devise an appropriate plan of attack. I have written to Oprah, but I haven't heard back. Maybe you can do the same thing. You are saying very similar things to what I am saying. Maybe we should also be contacting the same law firms and putting some of these histories in writing en masse rather than approaching these things individually.
Brainstorming could be helpful. I know we are all kind of busy, but even a couple of hours a week could get the job done -- okay, maybe five?
Posted by PoohBear on December 5, 2004, at 16:14:32
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor? » S.Bartel, posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 15:59:55
Posted by Phillipa on December 5, 2004, at 16:22:02
In reply to Sorry guys, I'm through posting on this thread... (nm), posted by PoohBear on December 5, 2004, at 16:14:32
Do you think the same thing will happen with Cymbalta? And, yes, I read the threads. A few years ago I was Rx'd Effexor, but I quit at 37.5mgs cause I couldn't stand the side effects.
Posted by S.Bartel on December 5, 2004, at 17:28:20
In reply to Re: Sorry guys, I'm through posting on this thread..., posted by Phillipa on December 5, 2004, at 16:22:02
> Do you think the same thing will happen with Cymbalta? And, yes, I read the threads. A few years ago I was Rx'd Effexor, but I quit at 37.5mgs cause I couldn't stand the side effects.
<< I don't know, I'm not familiar with Cymbalta. Have you gone to the manufacturers web site and checked out side effects? Sammi
Posted by MKB on December 5, 2004, at 17:38:59
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor? » S.Bartel, posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 15:59:55
Don't leave me out. I feel just as passionately as you two, but I've already been blocked once for a week, so I'm trying to be careful. Yes, I also wish we could chat somewhere else so we didn't have to worry about that. MSN/Hotmail offers People Groups for free. Maybe that would work... HOpe this doesn't get redirected.
Posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 18:18:40
In reply to Re: Anyone had success..?S.Barteldancingstar » dancingstar, posted by MKB on December 5, 2004, at 17:38:59
Yes, I meant that post for everyone that feels the same way. I certainly didn't mean to exclude you of all people!!!
Maybe we can even arrange a phone chat or something. I know that I have blocked my Buddy options, but I can allow a few people or specific people by name. Some of these messaging programs are compatible with other systems, like AOL and Microsoft. We can brainstorm and figure out how best to proceed to accomplish something and each of us take a specific responsibility so that we are more effective I wanted to get this sent and sure hope you read it before it gets pulled. I do hope you get it.
Anyone that feels strongly should participate, don't you think?
Bebe0217@aol.com -Bebe
Posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 18:24:02
In reply to Re: Effexor vs. Cymbalta?? » Phillipa, posted by S.Bartel on December 5, 2004, at 17:28:20
> > Do you think the same thing will happen with Cymbalta? And, yes, I read the threads. A few years ago I was Rx'd Effexor, but I quit at 37.5mgs cause I couldn't stand the side effects.
>
> << I don't know, I'm not familiar with Cymbalta. Have you gone to the manufacturers web site and checked out side effects? Sammi
>Hope not. There are tons of people on the fibromyalgia board that have just started taking Cymbalta and getting great results from it. I haven't taken it, though; and I won't ever take anything that messes with my brain ever again.
Best of luck to you.
That's great advice, you know, to check out the website.
Posted by Phillipa on December 5, 2004, at 18:40:24
In reply to Re: Effexor vs. Cymbalta??, posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 18:24:02
According to all I've read and heard, even on this site, it's supposed to be the exact same type drug as Effexoe. It targets Serotonin and Norepinefrine {spelled wrong}. It's supposed to have less side effects. I didn't know it was used for fibromyalgia. What doses are they taking? The manufacturer states that results are same for over 60mgs, so that is the highest they recommend, but there is someone on this board who is taking l20mgs and having good results. Thanks for responding.
Posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 18:47:20
In reply to Re: Effexor vs. Cymbalta??, posted by Phillipa on December 5, 2004, at 18:40:24
> According to all I've read and heard, even on this site, it's supposed to be the exact same type drug as Effexoe. It targets Serotonin and Norepinefrine {spelled wrong}. It's supposed to have less side effects. I didn't know it was used for fibromyalgia. What doses are they taking? The manufacturer states that results are same for over 60mgs, so that is the highest they recommend, but there is someone on this board who is taking l20mgs and having good results. Thanks for responding.
I'm sorry, I don't know that much about this, but you might find out more at immunesupport.com, which is where I read about it in the first place.Hope this helps!
Bebe
Posted by Sinnielou on December 5, 2004, at 19:19:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success..?S.Barteldancingstar » dancingstar, posted by MKB on December 5, 2004, at 17:38:59
My question is why are people coming off in the first place??? All of a sudden because you feel better for a day or 2 that means you just jump the gun and quit meds cold turkey??? It isn't like you walk into a corner variety store and buy effexor with your bag of chips. Obviously everyones doctor prescribed the meds for very good reason and hey guess what sometimes those good reasons keep people on there meds for as long as they are. I have been on effexor for over a year and I'm proud to say I will never come off what for did my depression magically disappear I wish it did. If I had a headache is someone going to slag me because I take tylenol?? If I was a diabetic and you going to take away my insulin?? I don't think so, people have a hard time remembering what they said to there doctor just before the prescrption was written. I just don't understand the logic in people really I don't yes some have had negative effects from effexor but hey alot of people haven't that's why the drug is prescribed. Giddy up to people who don't need meds and don't take them, but always remember you did need them at one time.
Shannon
Posted by MKB on December 5, 2004, at 19:49:17
In reply to Re: Anyone had success..?, posted by Sinnielou on December 5, 2004, at 19:19:24
>>Obviously everyones doctor prescribed the meds for very good reason >>
I completely disagree with that statement, based on my own experience and that of others. I wish I could take longer to respond, but I'm doing some work right now on a tight deadline, so I can't. Maybe tomorrow.
Posted by dancingstar on December 5, 2004, at 19:52:22
In reply to Re: Anyone had success..?, posted by Sinnielou on December 5, 2004, at 19:19:24
> My question is why are people coming off in the first place??? All of a sudden because you feel better for a day or 2 that means you just jump the gun and quit meds cold turkey??? It isn't like you walk into a corner variety store and buy effexor with your bag of chips. Obviously everyones doctor prescribed the meds for very good reason and hey guess what sometimes those good reasons keep people on there meds for as long as they are. I have been on effexor for over a year and I'm proud to say I will never come off what for did my depression magically disappear I wish it did. If I had a headache is someone going to slag me because I take tylenol?? If I was a diabetic and you going to take away my insulin?? I don't think so, people have a hard time remembering what they said to there doctor just before the prescrption was written. I just don't understand the logic in people really I don't yes some have had negative effects from effexor but hey alot of people haven't that's why the drug is prescribed. Giddy up to people who don't need meds and don't take them, but always remember you did need them at one time.
> ShannonDid you read all of the prior posts before you wrote yours? I was prescribed Effexor for fatigue, and though I went to the doctor cause I couldn't figure out what was causing severe fatigue and weight gain (which was causing some depression and anxiety) it wasn't until I switched doctors from the family practice quack that prescribed Effexor for these problems that my low thyroid was diagnosed.
Did you know that low thyroid can cause depression? Anyway, my new, wonderful internist didn't know why I was taking Effexor in the first place, as it could have been for a psychological problem, and so he didn't force me to stop taking it, but I finally figured out on my own that this had to be the cause of my weight gain cause I ate very little food. I was existing on around 400 to 600 calories a day, and having severe fibromyalgia and still trying to exercise...but I could barely keep my weight down to 140 or 142 at 5'6". So I quit taking the drug, and now I weigh around 127ish, and I have no fatigue at all, and every single joint pain that I had is gone...really it is, it hasn't returned, and it's raining. I do have some neck and back pain, more in the nerves from the leftover withdrawal, but I do think it's starting to ease up, and my stomach just isn't right, but I have faith that I'm healing.
Nope, Effexor is being prescribed for all kinds of things that it shouldn't be prescribed for, and that's what we are trying to have stopped. It has been misrepresented as a wonder drug. Gee, you know, I lost an entire three years of my life to that darn drug. Even another day or two would have been too many. The sooner this is all over, the better. I should add that I was so sick and so tired that between everything I did, I needed to rest for at least two hours and there have been days that I could sleep from one until the next without ever leaving the room. I couldn't even get up to answer the telephone. I had no idea it was from Effexor until I began to read that Effexor could cause fatigue, a problem that I was already struggling with before I began to take Effexor.
Some people think that all doctors are perfect and infallible. I'm afraid that I am not one of them. Many are great, but I ended up in the hands of one that cared more about kickbacks than his patients. By the way, this same doctor lied in my medical records and denied prescribing some of the medicines he was having me take. He told my private disability company that there was nothing wrong with me and essentially ruined my reputation and said that I was a liar when in truth I looked up his name online and found out that he had been suspended by the medical board more than one time. I lost $3,000 a month and was too weak and tired to fight about it; so I went back to sleep for about a year and a half, which sounds like an exaggeration, but that was pretty much my life. I simply could not stay awake, I had no idea what was wrong with me, and didn't really think I would live, just kind of hung in there.
Stopping taking Effexor was one of the smarter things that I have ever done, though cold turkey may not be the best way I could have gone. I just didn't have any idea that it was going to be a problem as I wasn't warned that there were any side effects or that there were any problems whatsoever if you decided to stop taking it. The joke was on me.
Next time I was more careful in my choice of doctors.
Bebe
Posted by S.Bartel on December 5, 2004, at 19:56:10
In reply to Re: Anyone had success..?, posted by Sinnielou on December 5, 2004, at 19:19:24
We did'nt quit because we felt better a couple of days. We quit because we felt bad for a lot of days. I don't believe this is a drug that should be taken for the long term. A year is not a long time. I was on it for 7yrs. After about 3yrs. I was so tired all the time that I could't get out of bed and it took me another 4yrs. to realize it was Effexor that caused it. At first it gave me lots of energy and I felt great except I could'nt sleep. Then I got to where I could and finally I had to sleep all the time and could'nt work without falling asleep. I hope it never affects you like that, but what I hear from most people that is what happens. Then if you have to quit taking it you have severe withdrawls on top of everything else.
I have been off for over 2 months now and finally feel somewhat normal except for the liver damage that it caused. At least I have a clear mind now and can feel things instead of just covering them up and never dealing with them. Good Luck, Sammi
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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